Cool Site to Make Photo Presentations

Maybe everyone knows this site already but I just discovered it. All you have to do is upload a bunch of pictures, pick a theme, a presentation format and some music and the program does all the work. I love the way the sepia film look like an old 8mm filmstrip. Very vintage.

I have un-embedded the video. Please click on the link below to watch.

http://www.moblyng.com/watch/i7LWVhYSk0

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"Best Drama" IFDC Convention Doll, Lifeball, Vanessa

Stunning, sleek, sophisticated, that is in a nutshell my description of "Best Drama", the 2009 convention souvenir from this year's IFDC. She is part of the newly introduced Monogram collection which purports to showcase the runway designs of Jason Wu. We're still looking for this dress. Perhaps it will show up in a future runway show.
The packaging is dramatic with a striking and dynamic color splash on the front of the box. Tying the doll to the box were gray ribbons with Jason Wu woven into them. I am wondering about the brass (?) closure folded over the top of the box. It's beautiful, substantial and excessive. I thought at first it could be used as part of the stand but that's not true. It's truly useless.
I put my Lifeball and Best Drama together and decided to switch a few things around.
First of all, I removed the crinoline from under Lifeball's gown to allow the fabric to drape gracefully. I took off her hat and gave it to Best Drama and replaced LB's jewelry with that of Agnes OV. Lifeball got a black ring.The rose themed jewelry on BD was tacky-looking so I switched it up with LB's earrings and added a rhinestone cluster at her waist, rhinestone bracelet and ring. Black looks so good with diamonds.
Here are two more views of Best Drama.

The biggest surprise of all was the intricate and delicate embroidered embellishment on the hosiery. The designers provided shoes with strappy ribbons that interfere with this beautiful detail work. I changed the shoes to plain black pumps.
The quality of this product is excellent. Value for the dollar is questionable but I'd rather have the finest of dolls for $225. than a defective doll for $125.

~~~

The biggest mistake Integrity could make would be to start knocking these dolls out one after the other. Why? Well, in 2006 there were only 11 Vanessas, each was highly sought after and very collectible. Then the company started to produce more Vanessas: In Bloom (Club Doll), Pale Fire, Going Places, (2007 Convention Souvenir), High Tide, Color Therapy, Metal Maven, Shirred Not Shaken (2008 Centerpiece Doll).
They were all beautiful but part of an overload of Vanessas. Club members asked for it and they got it. One must be careful what one asks for.
Two years later there are now about 19 Vanessas and the latest ones are hard to give away. There hasn't been a amazing knock-out Vanessa since Miami Glow.
There will be one more Vanessa as part of the convention collection this year. She is called "Luxe Life" and is a "re-edition." I wouldn't mind having Lush Life's gown again but I hope this Vanessa is drop dead gorgeous. This image is the property of Integrity Toys and shows Lush Life Veronique.

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IFDC Convention Souvenir and Companion Dolls

Last night at the closing banquet in Las Vegas, attendees of the IFDC were given their souvenir dolls. Often the most anticipated highlight of any convention, many who don't attend hang around waiting to see pictures. We were not disappointed as the collector, Shuga, was very fast and sent images via phone. After that more images began to appear and in the middle of the night (DST) the W Club sent it's members official images of the dolls.

Both the souvenir doll and the companion doll are from the new FR Monogram Collection and are each limited to 300 dolls. For those who don't know, a companion doll is an optional purchase at a convention. The souvenir doll is included in the price one pays to attend the convention. I heard that attendees were offered the option to purchase additional dolls. I don't have that verified at this time. Apparently there was a price for Best Drama, the souvenir doll, which would lead me to believe that this is true. Her price was $225. Black Party was $175. a huge jump from the $90. companion dolls of the past.

Here are the pictures from Integrity Toys. First is "Best Drama," the souvenir doll.

Next is "Black Party," the companion doll.

I like Best Drama's hair. I think it's adorable. The dress is a combination of the "I Want Candy" style and the layered chiffon of "She Comes in Colors," both of which I liked very much. I think I would eliminate the patterned tights and add a be-jeweled belt.

The earrings - roses - are straight out of Valia's jewel box. I found them to be inappropriate for earrings as the base of the setting stands away from the ear and looks odd.
It's a very cute suit and looks great in the photos but bare chested tops don't work for my dolls. They need a touch of modesty...just a touch. It's easy to sew a strip of stretch lace into a bandeau and slip it over the doll's chest. One can find inexpensive packets of lacy hem binding in sewing shops.
{I have been informed that there is a sheer fabric over her chest.}
The hands appear to be the same as Lifeball's which are not terribly graceful but they are removable. Problem is, where are we to get all these replacement hands? I wonder if the shoes have squishy plastic heels. It looks like eyelashes may be a thing of the past.

What do you think?

All the images in this post are the property of Integrity Toys.

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FR Monogram Collection - #2 Doll "Statuesque"

The model on the right is wearing Jason Wu and so is the doll on the left. She is the second entry in the new Fashion Royalty Monogram Collection which is intended to showcase select works from Jason's fashion runway.
A limited number of dolls were made available to the public at Colette, a Parisian boutique, and online on their web site. They are sold  out now but members of the W Club may have a chance to obtain one at a future date.
In this picture she looks like Valia but in other pictures I've seen, she has a strong resemblance to the Avantguard doll, Goldmine.

The image below is from the website.

The retail price of this beautiful doll is (was) approximately $250. without VAT, depending upon the exchange rates of the moment. Shipping to the US would have brought the price up to about $300. I had her in the shopping cart and at the last minute I controlled myself. I would like to have her though. I like her much better than Lifeball.

This is what is says on her box:
"Statuesque"
Desc: Exclusive au magasin Colette, Paris
FR: Monogram par Jason Wu New York
# 93010

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